PHOTOS: Commuter Rail system launched In Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov, 10 – President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday Launched the Nairobi Commuter Rail system as part of the government’s investment in an integrated mass transit system in Urban area.

President Kenyatta said the Government is focused in its implementation of an integrated transport network project in Nairobi to curb the huge losses Kenyans face as a result of traffic congestion.

“The estimated value of time lost to travel in Nairobi, as an example, is between Ksh 80 million and Sh400 million per month, with congestion costing the country about Ksh50 million daily.Needless to say, this loss in productivity has impacted adversely the growth of our economy,” President Kenyatta said.

Kenyatta commissioned the new look Nairobi Central Railway Station and unveiled commuter rail service across 10 stations in the Nairobi Metropolitan region that will be served by modern trains, referred to as Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs).

The Nairobi Central Railway Station as well as the 10 stations were refurbished under the modernization program of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Service.

The stations on the new scheduled commuter rail service will provide enhanced transport in the high-density residential areas of Ruiru, Mwiki, Embakasi Village, Athi River, Kikuyu, Kahawa, Githurai, Dandora, Pipeline, and Donholm.

“These stations will also soon be served by 11 DMUs, of which five are being commissioned today.” Kenyatta said.

The new commuter rail network, which will have day-long hourly train service to and from the 10 stations, will also be integrated with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that will connect the Nairobi Central Station with existing matatu and commuter bus termini.

The President said the Government has so far spent Sh6.6 billion in upgrading the commuter rail stations within the Nairobi Metropolitan region, including the access roads as well as the integrated and modern ticketing system that accommodates offsite booking.

“But we are comforted by the fact that these investments have already yielded great fruits.  During the construction of these 10 commuter rail stations, we had an average of 50 workers per day engaged, culminating in over 180,000 direct jobs created and over 700,000 indirect jobs,”

The maintenance and upkeep of the stations was and will be undertaken by the Kazi Mtaani youth.

In the next one year the scheduled commuter rail service will be extended to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allowing air travellers an alternative mode of transport to and from the airport without suffering the frustration of being caught up in the Mombasa Road traffic jam.

“By diversifying our urban transport solutions and giving commuters the option of faster and cheaper travel by rail, we will reduce the number of motor vehicle trips; and thereby save Kenyans not only time and money but also enhance air quality in our Kenyan urban areas,” President Kenyatta said.